Mexican icon Canelo Alvarez says he simply made a mistake and is not a cheat

It's due to take place in Las Vegas, on May 5.

But Canelo, a national hero in Mexico, and one of the world's top six fighters was found to have clenbuterol in his system - a performance-enhancing substance that turns fat into muscle.

Alvarez vehemently denies he's a cheat and claims he made a mistake - perhaps it should be spelled MISTEAK - by eating contaminated meat.

That's an easy excuse but it simply won't wash. The World Anti-Doping Agency, among others, has consistently warned sportsmen and women that Mexico continues to contaminate its meat and therefore it must be avoided.

Golovkin described Canelo as "shameful and stupid" and is calling on the governing bodies and the Nevada State Athletic commission - which could refuse to sanction the fight - to take the necessary disciplinary action against him.

Triple G, for 20 years a vociferous opponent of drug taking, said "There are laws and a Commission and anti-doping scrutiny and we have to fulfil them.

"They have to take action. If it's neglected why do we need a Commission? And why talk about tests?

"When you get to our level people should be watching the skills you muster and not wonder what laboratory you have."

Sanchez knows Alvarez's defence will be he didn't realise what he had been eating was going to cause him more problems than a bout of indigestion.

Abel said scathingly: "You have to be ignorant and live under a rock to not know that contaminated meat hasn't been a problem before."

Canelo Alvarez has plenty of explaining to do - but Colin Hart believes no excuse can be good enough

Who is naïve enough to believe that is likely to be Canelo's fate? Because there is so much money to be lost I'm sure the Nevada officials will find a way to wriggle out of their responsibilities and allow Golovkin-Alvarez II to take place on schedule.

Sadly boxing seems to be sinking further and further into the cesspit of performing-enhancing drug-taking that has afflicted sports like athletics and cycling for years.

MAY BE RETURNING

ARE EU JOKING?

Gennady Golovkin lands a punch on Canelo Alvarez in their first fight in September

But there is a major difference. Ben Johnson wasn't going to kill any of his seven rivals when they lined up against him in that infamous 1988 Seoul Olympic 100 metres final.
But a hard-hitting fighter pumped up with the help of illegal drugs could cause the death of an opponent.

Boxing is dangerous enough as it is and in my opinion any boxer found guilty of taking anything on the banned list, whatever the excuse, should be banned for life.

And it doesn't matter if he's a journeyman or an elite superstar like Canelo. But because boxing has no overall world governing body I know that's never going to happen.